A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lokoja, on Tuesday remanded three robbery suspects for allegedly attacking and dispossessing students of their belongings in Kogi.
The suspects were arrested and arraigned for terrorising student communities of Adakolo, Felele, Bassa Village and Crusher suburb areas of Lokoja, the confluence city.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that students of Federal University Lokoja (FUL) were on March 23 and 25, attacked by hoodlums who dispossessed them of their valuables such as smart phones, computers and other items.
The three suspects – Abbas Salisu, Gimba Ibrahim and Mamud Lawal Kwara – were arraigned by the Department of State Security Service (DSS).
The suspects had earlier confessed to have stolen 33 phones during interrogation by the DSS before their arrangement at the court in Lokoja.
The Prosecution counsel, Olanrewaju Yahaya, filed four count charges of criminal conspiracy, theft of phones valued at one million naira, and dishonestly receiving stolen property.
The charge also include belonging to a gang of thieves that are stealing the belongings of Students of Kogi State Polytechnic and Federal University Lokoja.
The prosecution counsel urged the court to remand the accused persons at the Koton Karfe Medium Custodian Centre, pending the investigation and hearing of the case.
The trial Chief Magistrate, Abdullahi Mopah, remanded the suspects in Koton Karfe Custodial Centre after pleading not guilty to the charges.
The case was thereafter adjourned till May 9, for hearing.
Similarly, the Chief Magistrate Court also remanded one Austin Obaje in Koton-Karfe Centre for alleged impersonation, extortion and fraud.
Obaje was dragged before the court for allegedly and consistently using the name of Department of State Services to defraud the unsuspecting public.
Obaje was brought to court on charges that he had fraudulently obtained N300,000 from one Dr. Simeon Oyigun Omakoji, under the false pretence that he was sent by the State Director, DSS, Mr Tosin Ajayi.
Austin was also said to have committed an extortion by deliberately putting one Dr. Simeon Oyigun Omakoji, in fear of death to wit, that the former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, had sent assassins and kidnappers to eliminate him.
The Defence Counsel, William Alewo, urged the court to grant the defendant bail to enable him to prepare to defend his case, noting that he will not jump the bail or interfere in the investigation.
The Chief Magistrate, Abdullahi Mopah, in his ruling, remanded the defendant in the custody of Koton Karfe Correctional Centre and adjourned the case till May 9, for hearing and continuation. (NAN)
